Ethan Ward leaned against the hood of his Astellon Vantage, the silver card Vincent had tossed him glinting under Calverton's streetlights. The spiral symbol etched into it felt heavy with meaning he couldn't yet grasp. The rain had stopped, leaving the city air thick with salt from the nearby docks and the faint buzz of hover-drones overhead. His phone showed $3,674.20—after the $100 he'd dropped at Nova Grill—and his mind churned with possibilities. The Galactic Ascension System had already turned his life upside down in a single night: cash multipliers, a luxury car, a futuristic blueprint, and now this Charisma Boost that made him feel ten feet tall. But Vincent's cryptic warning—others want it—hung over him like a storm cloud.
The system's text flared in his vision, sharp and insistent.
[Task: Identify Vincent's affiliation. Reward: 2000 credits, Random Luxury Item. Time limit: 7 days remaining.]
Ethan flipped the card between his fingers. "Affiliation, huh? What are you, some corporate spy? Secret society nutjob?" He smirked, but unease gnawed at him. The blueprint—Portable Energy Core—still hovered in his System Inventory, a glowing schematic of tech so advanced it made OmniCorp's clunky processors look like toys. If Vincent knew about it, who else did?
His phone buzzed—a text from his landlord, Mr. Grayson: Rent's due tomorrow, Ward. $800 or you're out. No excuses. Ethan groaned. Even with his multiplied income, that'd dent his account hard. He needed more—fast. The system's earlier task blinked in his mind: Invest your multiplied income. Reward: 1000 credits, Random Stock Shares (Tier 1 Company). Time limit: 3 days. He hadn't even started. "Guess it's time to play the game," he muttered, sliding into the Vantage.
The engine roared as he sped toward Calverton's eastern district, where glass towers housed the city's financial elite. He'd never set foot in a brokerage—hell, he'd barely understood stocks beyond vid-stream rants about "bull markets"—but that Basic Financial Acumen pulsed in his brain, a quiet confidence urging him forward. He parked outside Sterling Investments, a sleek office with floor-to-ceiling windows and a holographic sign flickering "Open Late." The Vantage drew stares from passersby—suits with briefcases, a couple in designer coats—making Ethan's damp hoodie feel out of place. But he straightened up, channeling that Charisma Boost vibe from the restaurant. Fake it till you make it.
Inside, the air smelled of polished wood and money. A receptionist—dark hair, sharp suit, name tag reading "Lena"—glanced up from her desk. "Can I help you?" she asked, her tone polite but skeptical as she eyed his clothes.
"Yeah," Ethan said, flashing a grin. "I'm here to open an account. Got some cash to move."
Lena's brow arched, but she waved him to a glass-walled office where a broker waited—a wiry guy in his forties, graying hair, named Marcus. "New client?" Marcus asked, leaning back in his chair. "What's your play?"
Ethan sat, pulling out his phone. "I've got $3,674.20 to invest. Looking for something solid—stocks, maybe some tech firms. What's hot?"
Marcus chuckled, adjusting his tie. "First timer, huh? That's not a bad chunk, but it's small potatoes here. Tech's volatile—could double your money or tank it by lunch. You sure you're ready?"
Ethan's gut twitched—Financial Acumen kicking in. "Split it," he said, the words spilling out like instinct. "Half in a safe bet, half in something risky but with growth potential. Diversify."
Marcus blinked, impressed. "Alright, kid. Safe bet—Calverton Shipping, steady at $50 a share. Risky? How about NexTech? They're pushing quantum processors, stock's at $20 but climbing fast. Could blow up if their next launch hits." He tapped his tablet, pulling up charts. "Say, $1,800 in Shipping, $1,800 in NexTech?"
Ethan nodded, transferring the funds. The app dinged—$3,674.20 down to $74.20. His stomach flipped, but the system chimed triumphantly.
[Task completed: Invest your multiplied income. Rewards granted: 1000 credits, Random Stock Shares (Tier 1 Company)—50 shares of OmniCorp, current value $25/share. Total credits: 2750.]
Ethan's breath hitched. OmniCorp? His old employer? Fifty shares at $25—that was $1,250 in stock, just handed to him. If he sold now, he'd more than cover rent. The irony wasn't lost on him—screwed over by them, now profiting off their success. "Thanks, Marcus," he said, standing. "Keep me posted."
Back in the Vantage, he checked his System Inventory. The Portable Energy Core blueprint glowed alongside a new tab—Stock Portfolio. OmniCorp shares sat there, a silent middle finger to his past. But he wasn't selling—not yet. That Financial Acumen whispered hold, and he trusted it.
His phone buzzed again—Grayson: Where's my money, Ward? Ethan smirked, transferring $800 from his last $74.20, leaving him near broke again. "Enjoy it, you old leech," he muttered. He'd need more cash soon, but the system hadn't let him down yet.
As he drove toward his apartment, a shadow darted across the street—a figure in a gray coat, hood up, watching him. Ethan slowed, squinting, but they slipped into an alley. The system pinged.
[Alert: Unknown observer detected. Task update: Identify Vincent's affiliation—progress noted. Additional reward unlocked—$1,000 cash injection. New balance: $274.20.]
Ethan laughed, shaking his head as his account ticked up. "You're spoiling me," he said to the system. But that figure—another watcher?—tightened his grip on the wheel. Vincent wasn't alone. Someone wanted his blueprint, his rewards. He needed to get smarter, faster.
He pulled into his apartment lot, a crumbling complex near the docks. The Vantage looked absurd next to rusted sedans and a dumpster overflowing with trash. As he climbed the stairs, a voice called out—gruff, familiar. "Nice ride, Ward. Where'd a deadbeat like you get that?"
Ethan turned to see Tony Russo, a beefy ex-coworker from OmniCorp, leaning against the railing. Tony'd been a warehouse grunt, always mouthing off about Ethan's "fancy desk job" before they'd both gotten canned. "None of your business," Ethan shot back, unlocking his door.
Tony smirked, eyeing the car. "What, you hit the jackpot? Don't get cocky—fancy toys don't change who you are."
Ethan's temper flared, but the system chimed.
[Task: Humble a doubter. Reward: 800 credits, Random Gadget (Tier 1). Time limit: 10 minutes.]
He stepped closer, activating Charisma Boost—ten minutes of raw presence surging through him. "You're right, Tony," he said, voice smooth, commanding. "Toys don't change me. I change them. That car? Just the start. Stick around—I'll own this city while you're still hauling crates."
Tony's smirk faltered, his bravado shrinking under Ethan's stare. "Yeah, whatever," he mumbled, backing off. "Crazy talk."
The system dinged.
[Task completed. Rewards granted: 800 credits, Random Gadget—Holo-Comm (Portable Communicator, Tier 1). Total credits: 3550.]
Ethan grinned, stepping inside. The Holo-Comm appeared in his Inventory—a sleek wrist device, futuristic and compact. He strapped it on, a tiny hologram projector humming to life. "Cool," he murmured, testing it with a flick—static flickered, no signal yet. More tech to play with.
He flopped onto his mattress, staring at the water-stained ceiling. Cash, stocks, a car, gadgets—the system was a goldmine, but Vincent's card weighed on his mind. That spiral symbol. The watchers. He needed answers, and fast.
A knock rattled his door—sharp, insistent. He opened it to find a package, no label, just a note: You're moving up. Don't trip. Inside was a black leather jacket, buttery soft, worth more than his old wardrobe combined. The system chimed.
[Bonus reward: Luxury Item—Calverton Elite Jacket. Value: $600. Wear it well.]
Ethan slipped it on, the fit perfect. He caught his reflection in a cracked mirror—scruffy, but sharper, a man on the rise. The broke clerk was fading. Tomorrow, he'd chase Vincent's trail, grow his wealth, and slap down anyone who doubted him. Calverton wasn't ready for Ethan Ward.